SPRINGDALE -- Downtown is closer to seeing more streetscape improvement following Monday's City Council Committee meeting.
The committee recommended the council approve improvement to Emma Avenue. The improvement will be a continuation of the city's plan for downtown development.
Committee actions
Springdale’s City Council Committee also recommended approving:
• A construction contract for the 5573 Elm Springs Road demolition project.
• Aauthorizing the Police Department to use asset forfeiture money for building maintenance.
• Aauthorizing a change in the authorized staff and amending the 2016 budget of the Information Technology Department.
Source: Staff report
Emma Avenue has seen road work over the past few months, which required a section to be closed and rerouted. The newly recommended improvement will not impede traffic, said Melissa Reeves, public relations coordinator for the city.
"It's not tearing up the road," she said. "It's putting in the proper signalization to create three-way and four-way stops."
If approved by the council, signs for four-way stops will be put in along Emma at Shiloh Street, Main Street and Commercial Street and signs for a three-way stop will be put in at Holcomb Street, according to the proposal.
"Emma Avenue traffic will move at a much more controlled manner and allow cross traffic opportunities to exit and enter the street in a safer manner," the proposal states.
The stop signs can be installed the day after council approves, said Sam Goade, public works director.
The improvement is designed to stimulate downtown activity, said Mike Overton, committee chairman.
The committee moved to the council without recommendation the decision on whether to sell a city building at 206 Blair St. to Child Care Aware of Northwest Arkansas, a nonprofit organization at 614 E. Emma Ave., for $325,000.
The building, which Reeves said is appraised at $320,000, used to house the Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division until the division moved to Spring Street a few years ago.
Committee member Kathy Jaycox expressed reservation, saying because the downtown area is booming, the building might sell at a higher price in the future.
The city bought the 4,716-square-foot building in 2004 for $300,000, said Wyman Morgan, director of finance and administration.
On July 18, the committee considered an offer from Springdale-based Quadrivium to buy the building for $297,000.
Child Care Aware provides child care referrals in 14 counties in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley and also provides parenting classes, child care provider education, training and professional development opportunities, according to the group's website.
Mayor Doug Sprouse suggested the building to a Child Care Aware representative who spoke to him about their need for an office building.
"This would be a good owner of the property," Sprouse said during the meeting.
NW News on 08/30/2016